Loom-reed cleaning and polishing machine



E. F. HATHAWAY.

LOOM REED CLEANING AND POLISHING- MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 20| |918.

-katented J an. 2U, 1920.

8 SHEEIS-SI'IELI I.

Qim- Eolgo Y. Hokowu.

@we L E.'F. HATHAWAY. Loom REED CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20| 1918.

Patented J an. 20, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. F. HATHAWAY. LOOM REED CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20 I 1918.

- Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

B SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q/v j@ a QM a n E. F. HATHAWAY. LOOMHEED CLEANING AND POL'ISHING MACHINE.

.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1918.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Mm mxo: EOISOLY F. Hodhaw a5,

E. F. HATHAWAY.

Loom REED CLEANING AND PoLlsHrNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20 1918.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. F. HATHAWAY. LOOM REED CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 20, i918. l 1,328,563, Patented Jan. 20,1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6. //4

' l ik om g5 rE. F. HATIIAWAY. LOOM REED CLEANING AND -POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, IQIB. Patented Jan. 20

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

wgwwwmw.

E. F. HATHAWAY.

Loom REED CLEANING AND PoLlsHlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1918.

Patented J anl 20, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

vertical section,

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY, 0F DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

Application led .Tune 20, 1918. Serial No. 241,021.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDGAR F. I-IATHAWAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Loom-Reed Cleaning and Polishing Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to mechanism for cleaning and polishing, and preferably for cleaning and polishing loom reeds or other like articles.

In order that the principleof the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in of one forni of mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts in transverse section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

F ig; 2EL is a detail in side elevation of means for moving the sticks of cleaning, polishing or abrasive material in their holders;

Fig. 3 is a detail, mainly in longitudinal section, of the yielding drive for the reed feeding means;

Fig 4 is an end elevation, partially in vertical section, delivery end thereof, the receiving means for the cleaned and polished reed being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse vertical section upon the line 5 5 of F ig: 2;

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section upon an enlarged scale of a portion of the reed feeding means and the cleaning and polishing means;

Fig. 7 is a view in vert-ical section showing a portion of the receiving means for the cleaned and polished loom reeds and the means for delivering the reeds thereto;

Fig. 8 is a view in transverse section taken through the loom reed magazine and showing a portion of the adjusting means for the magazine;

Fig. 9 is a detail in transverse section showing a portion of the adjusting means for the magazine and the yielding shield or protecting means for the edges of the loom reeds;

Specification of Letters Patent.

section, of the mechanism of the mechanism at thel LOOM-REED CLEANING AND POLISHIN G MACHINE.

Patented Jan'. 2o, 1920.

Fig. 10 isla detail,j partially diagrammatic, of electrical means for locking the driving means in driving relation and also for stopping the mechanism upon the feeding of the last reed or series of reeds;

Fig. 11 is a plan View, with parts broken away, of a mechanical stop motion for the mechanism, and whereby also the driving mechanism is locked in effective relation by the positioning of a loom reed or a pile of loom reeds;

Fig. l2 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, and with parts in vertical shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail in plan view of a portion of the polishing brushes and adjusting means therefor;

Fig. 14 is a view upon an enlarged scale, in end elevation and partially in vertical section, with parts broken away, of one form of mechanism embodying my invention Fig. 15 is a detail representing one of the holders for the polishing or abrasive material and its relation to the brush;

Fig. 16 is a detail in side elevation and partially in vertical section, of the polishing brushes and parts adjacent thereto;

Fig. 17 is a somewhat diagrammatic view, but mainly in side elevation and vertical section, of means for supplying oil or like material to the polishing brushes; and

Fig.'18 is a view, partially in plan and partially in transverse section, representing a portion of the polishing means and the means for adjusting the length of reciproeating movement thereof.

This invention 'is particularly intended for cleaning and:l preferably also for polishing loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structure and more particularly for cleaning and polishing reeds for cotton, woolen and silk looms. That form of the invention herein disclosed, however, has certain features especially adapting it to the cleaning and polishing of cotton and woolen looms.

Loom reeds, and particularly loom reeds for weaving cotton and woolen cloth, are composed of thin metallic bars `or dents slightly spaced apart and secured at their ends, preferably by wooden strips at the upper and under faces of the reed, said strips being secured to the reed dents by a thread or cord wrapped about said strips spirally between the dents, said thread or cord being treated with pitch or like material. Said securing means 1s covered with a tiin paper extending the length of the ree The loom reed quite quickly collects foreign matter, such as lint or small pieces of thread, which must be removed from time to time. Moreover the reed is apt to become rusted in use and at or near its ends is frequently impaired by so-called temple marks where the'temples have impinged upon the reed in the beating-up of the lay. Furthermore, the shuttle 1n picking back and forth i across the loom wears the normally somewhat rounded edges of the dents, so that the said edges'are substantially normal to the inner edges and present sharp angles. It is the purpose of my invention to provide means whereby loom reeds may beI quickly and effectively cleaned, all foreign matter .being removed therefrom, and whereby also the reeds may be polished, so as to remove rust and the socalled temple marks, and also to remove the sharp angles above lreferred to. d

Very frequently, after reeds are cleaned and polished, they are stored, in which case' it is desirable to apply oil or like material to prevent rust. In accordance with my invention, I provide means whereby if desired oil or like material may be applied to the reed, preferably by a suitable brush In carrying out my invention, I provide that is, the top and bottom portions there@ of (when in operative position in the loom),

' --are shielded or protected from the action of the cleaning and polishing means, therey by preventing all liability of the tearing or removal of the paper preferably used as above stated'upon cotton and woolen loom reeds.

Referring moreparticularly to thatsingle embodiment of the invention herein IdisJ closed, I have provided a series of uprights 1, whereonthe framing of the machine is su ported.

referably I provide a magazine wherein if desired a number-of reeds maybe supported. though in accordance with the broad scope of mypinvention, a single reed may be treated asihereinafter described.

Herein I dave represented a magazine having two parallel side members 2-2 pro- 55 single reed at a time. While any suitable feeding means may be employed, I have herein represented for that purpose a sprocket chain 5 having a series of followers or driving lugs 6 adapted to take against the rear end of the underlying reed and to feed the same forward in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6.

Any suitable means may be provided to drive the entire mechanism or machine including said feeding means. Herein for `the purpose I have represented an electric motor 7 mounted upon the longitudinally extending members 8 of the frame. Upon the shaft 9 of the motor is a pulley 1() .about which passes a belt 11 also passing about a pulley 12 fast upon the main shaft 13 extending longitudinally of the machine, said shaft also having thereon the pulleys le, l5, 16, whereby various parts of the mechanism are conveniently drlven.

- The main shaft 13, which preferably is driven at high speed, is mounted in suitable bearings 17, 18 which are adjustable andmeshing with a worm wheel 23 upon the shaft 24, and therefore driven at a greatly reduced speed, such, for example, as 100 to 1 or even 500 to l with reference to the main shaft 13. I may provide upon the shaft 21 or elsewhere a lratchet drive so as to effect an intermittent movement of parts controlled thereby.

Upon said shaft 24 is a sprocket wheel 25 about which extends asprocket chain 26 also extending about and driving a sprocket wheel 27 upon the short transverse shaft 28 whereon is fast a sprocket wheel 29 receivmg the reed feeding sprocket chain 5.

t is desirable that lthe loom vreeds be fed in a yielding manner, thus avoiding 6bjections of a positive feed if some obstruction should occur interfering with the proper feeding of the reeds. For that purpose, I have herein provided a suitable friction clutch most clearly shown in Fig. 3, and comprising members 30, 31 held in driving relation by a coil spring 32,

In the manner described, or in any other suitable way the' reeds are fed through the machine in an automatic manner one after another but yieldingly, and are presented successively to the action of the cleaning mechanism and to the action of the polishing mechanism, if the latter be provided.

While any suitable cleaning and polishing means may be provided, I preferably for that purpose employ brushes composed of line wire or even bristles, horse hair or cotton buff. In order to clean the reed, that is, to remove lint and like, material from the same and from the spaces between the reed dents, I preferably provide a. set of brushes represented at 33, 33, 34, 34 in Fig. 2, the brushes 33, 33 being positioned above the path of the reed, and the brushes 34, 34 below the same, as also clearly indicated in Fig. 6. The brushes 33, 34 are mounted in any suitable manner, but preferably in arms 35, 36 pivoted at 37, 38 and held at their outer ends in slots 39, 40 in brackets 41, 42, thus pern'litting proper adjustment of said brushes. Preferably and as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. the brushes 33, 34 are-slightly out of vertical alinement, though any suitable arrangement of the brushes may be made.

The shafts directly carrying said brushes 33, 34 are indicated at 43, 44. Said shafts are driven in any suitable manner and preferably from the pulley 14 upon the main shaft 13. As most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, passing about the pulley 14 is a belt extending about a pulley 46 upon an upright short shaft 47, and thence about a suitable pulley 48 upon the shaft 43, thence about an idler pulley 49, thence about a pulley 50 upon the shaft 44, and thence about a pulley 51 upon said upright shaft 47. In this or any suitable manner, said brushes 33, 34 are driven athigh speed. The said brushes are preferably mounted within a suitable casing 52 which, as indicated in that form of my invention shown in Fig. 4, is provided with oneor it may be a plurality of openings 53, whereby air may be admitted. The said 'brushes being driven at high speed serve as fans to suck air into the casing and to discharge the lint and other foreign matter through the passage 53 (Fig. 4) into any suitable` receptacle in communication with said casing.

The brushes 33, 34 are arranged with their shafts 43, 44 in parallelism with the longer axes of the reed dents, whereby the said brushes 33. 34 act in the direction of the feed of the reed through the machine, thereby completely removing lint and other foreign matter from the reed and particularly from the spaces between the dents thereof. Thus the reed is effectively cleaned. In order to polish the reed, I may provide any suitable means, but preferably employ a pair of brushes indicated most clearly at 54, in Fig. 6, wherein said brushes are represented as slightly out of vertical alinement. which arrangement is preferred, though within the broad scope Aand purpose of my invention said brushes may be in vertical alinement or in other suitable relation. As therein shown and as is also clearly apparent from Figs. 1 and 2, the said brushes 54, 55 are arranged with their axes transverse to the longer axes of the reed dents, or in other Words, the axes of said brushes 54, are arranged parallel to the direction of the feed of the reed through the mechanism.

The brushes 54, 55 may be mounted and driven in any suitable manner. I have herein represented them as secured by nuts 56 upon the thread ends 57 of shafts 58, 59 respectively in that form of my invention shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the pulley 16 has passing thereabout a belt 60v Which also passes about the pulley 61, 62 of the said brushes 54, 55 and if desired about an intermediate or idle pulley. In this or in any suitable manner, the said polishing brushes 54, 55 are driven at preferably a high rate of speed and polish the reeds, removing. the temple marks therefrom as well as rust or other accumulations and substantially restore the somewhat curved c-ontour of the edges of the reed dents. If desired, and as shown in Figs. 6, I may provide a loose collar 63 upon the shaft 583 which may be removed, so as to permit the brush 54 to be positioned in vertical alinement with the brush It is highly desirable to protect the edges of the reeds and particularly if the reeds be of the cotton or Woolen loom type. IVhile any suitable means may be provided for the purpose, I have herein represented shields or protecting members 64, 65 clearly shown in Fig. 9, and extending the entire length of the reeds While the same are subjected to the Cleaning and polishing action. The said shields 64, 65 are carried upon side members 66, 67 extending longitudinally of the machine in substantial alinement with the members 2, 2, and constituting supporting means for said reeds, while being conveyed through and past the cleaning and polishing devices. Preferably the upper shields 64, 64 are made yielding in any suitable manner to accommodate different sizes or thicknesses of reeds or reeds having edges of different thickness. For this purpose, and as most clearly shown in Fig. 9, I have provided'screws 68 tapped into the side members 66, 67 and having springs 69 coiled thereabout between the heads of said screws and the shields 64, 65, thereby permitting sufficient yielding movement of the latter.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the side members 66, 67 are arranged in parallelism or substantial alinement with the longitudinally extending members 2 2 constituting portions of the magazine and are slightly spaced therefrom. Thus, the reeds in their movement through the magazine are first supported by the side members 2-2 and next by the shielding members 64, upon the side members 66, 67. j Loom reeds differ not only in length but also in height, by which I mean their vertical extent when positioned in the loom. 1t is therefore desirable that the magazine and also the means for supporting the reed while being conveyed through or past the cleaning and the polishing means be adjustable to suit various heights of reed. For that purpose any suitable means may be provided. Herein I have provided a plurality of rods, each oppositely threaded and extending transversely of the mechanism and whereon are supported the members 22 and also the side members 66, 67. The said threaded rods, which are most clearly shown in Fig. 2, are herein four in number and are represented at 70, 71, 72, 73, the rods 70, 71 connecting the side members 2-2 and the rods 72, 7 3 connecting the side members 66, 67. Thesaid rods, which are mounted respectively in u right members 74, 74 and in thelongitudlnally extending members 75, 75 of the framing, are each oppositely threaded at their respective ends as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, and are provided at their outer ends vwith sprocket wheels 76, 77, 78, 79 about which passes a sprocket chain 80, whereby the side members of the magazine as well as the means for supporting the reeds while passing through the cleaning and polishing` means may be simultaneously and `uniformly adjusted to accommodate wider and narrower reeds. Any suitable means may be provided to impart movement to the sprocket chain 80, thereby effecting the unison adjustment of the said parts. As herein indicated, I have provided the sprocket wheel 77 with a crank 81, whereby a quick and approximate movement of adjustment may be imparted to said sprocket chain 80. Preferably I also provide a hand wheel 82 upon the rod 73 at the discharge end of the machine, whereby the final and fine adjustment may be effected. At the opposite end of the machine, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 7, I provide a pair of delivei rolls 83, 84, the upper one of which is suitably mounted upon an arm 85 pivoted at 86 upon the framing of the machine, and the lower one of which is mounted on a short shaft 87 upon the bracket 88 extending from the framing of the machine. The said rolls which are preferably covered with suitable friction or i other material 89 are drivenl in suitable manner. as by means of a sprocket. chain 90 passing about sprocket wheels 91, 92 upon the shafts of said rolls and also about a sprocket wheel 93 fast upon a shaft 94 mounted. upon a bracket extending from the framing of the machine. Upon said shaft 94 is a gear Wheel 95 meshing with and driven by a gear 96 upon the shaft 24. In

this or in any other suitable manner, the loom reeds are successively delivered by the delivery rolls 83, 84 onto any suitable support or receiving means.

For this purpose I have herein represented in Figs. 1 and 7 a receiver 97 having pivoted to the lower inner end thereof at 98 a tray or plate 99 which when empty is supported in an inclined position substantially as indicated in Fig. 1. The construction and airangements of the parts are such that as the reed is delivered from the feed rolls 83, 84, the forward end thereof will be received by the outer end of the tray or plate 99, which is supported at substantially the height of the reed when positioned between the feed rolls 83, 84. As the rear end of the foremost reed is discharged from the feed rolls 83, 84, it drops onto the rear end of the inclined tray or plate 99 and is held from slipping rearwardly off the same by the upright portion 100 thereof. The said means constitutes a simple and relatively inexpensive means for receiving the cleaned and polished reeds, but any other suitable means may be provided.

As successive reeds are deposited in the receiver 97, the tray or plate 99 assumes more nearly a horizontal position, being yieldingly supported in any suitable manner and preferably as follows:

I provide a suitable standard 101, which is of generally column formation and has provided at its upper end a screw 102 having a hand wheel 103. The said screw takes against and binds at the desired vertical height the sleeve 104 which carries at its upper end the collar 105, to which is attached the said receiver 97. Slidingly mounted in the sleeve 104 is an inner sleeve 106 having at its upper end a suitable head 107, against which rests the inclined tray or plate 99. The said sleeve 106 is normally' upwardly pressed by a coiled spring 108 which at its upper end takes against the under side of the head 107 and at its lower end enters a holder 109. \Vithin the said coil spring 108 is positioned an adjusting rod 110 which at its lower end is threaded at 111 and passes through a stationary nut 112. In order to adjust the tension of the spring 108, it is .merely necessary to remove the head 107 and apply a suitable socket wrench to the upper square end 113 of the rod 110.

Thus, or in any other suitable manner, the reeds may be delivered onto a yielding and adjustable receiver from which they may be taken for storage or for immediate use in looms. j

Preferably I provide means whereby the mechanism may'be automatically stopped when the reed or the last of the seriesof reeds is fed through the cleaning and polishing means. If desired and preferably I provide means whereby the positioning of the reed or the series of reeds in the magazine results in the locking of the driving means in driving relation, though in that form of .mechanism herein disclosed I have provided means whereby after the locking means is positioned the actual starting of the mech anism is done manually.

Any suitable means may be provided for the purpose and herei I have presented both electrical means and mechanical means for effecting the described stopping of the mechanism and the described locking thereof, it being evident that within the `broad scope and purpose of my invention either of said means may be provided, or that any other suitable arrangement for the purpose may be employed.

Refering iirst to the electrical form of locking and stopping mechanism shown, I have in Fig. 104 somewhat diagrammatically represented a circuit and a plurality of controlling means therefor governed by the positioningof the reed and the feeding thereof through the machine.

In Fig. 10, wherefrom I have omitted the cleaning and polishing means, I have represented a switch controller 114, pivoted at 115 and having a disk-like formation 116 of non-conducting material, and provided with a cut out portion 117. Normally,-that is, while the reed 4 is passing through the machine, the disk-like formation 116 maintains the terminals 118, 119 in contact. When the reed 4 has passed beyond the switch controller 114, the influence of a suitable circuit is broken at this point as indicated in dotted lines. The circuit, however, is not completely broken inasmuch as I -have provided a second switch controller 12() pivoted at 121 at a point preferably slightly beyond the polishing brushes, the said switch controller resting into the lower` position indicated in dotted lines when the reed has entirely passed the cleaning and polishing brushes.

The said switch controller120is provided with a disk-like member 122 having a cut out portion 123 permitting the terminal 124 to move away from the terminal 125, thus breaking the circuit at this point and completing the breaking of the entire circuit.

Any suitable means may be provided establishing a proper circuit. Herein I have represented a suitable source of electricity such as a dynamo at 126v leading from which are suitable conductors 127, 128, 129, leading to a rheostat. 130, etc. The rheostat is provided with an electro-magnet 131, and an armature 132 operating in theusual manner, so that when the armature has been manually swung upwardly, it is held in contact with themagnet when the circuit is completed through the conductors '133, 134,

spring and the the latter moves upwardly under upon the reed 4 and dropping leading from the rheostat to the terminals 124,- 125. Branch conductors 135, 136 lead to the terminals 118, 119.

It is evident that the separation of the terminals 118, 119 through the rising of the switch controller 114 does not effect the breaking of the entire circuit, since the circuit remains established through the conductors 133, 134. When, however, the reed 4 has passed beyond the switch controller 120, the latter drops and the circuit is at once completely broken through the separation of the terminals 124, 125, the magnet .131 is denergized and the switch 132 drops into the position shown in Fig. 10. In this manner, the operation of the entire mechanism is stopped.

vWhile the electrical stop motion herein described is particularly adapted for use with a direct current, I desire it to be understood that I may employ an electrical stop motion Vwith an alternating current. My invention, therefore, is not limited to the use of either type of current.

In Figs. 1'1 and 12, I have represented one form of mechanical stopping means that may be employed in the practice of my invention. Therein I have represented a pulley 137 fast upon its shaft 138 and driven by belt 139 from any suitable source of power. Loose upon said shaft 138 is a pulley 140, to which the belt 139 is shifted at the proper time by belt shifter 141 under the influence of spring 142.

The belt shifter 141 as most clearly shown in Fig. '12 is pivoted upon the shaft 143, whereon is fast an arm 144 which is held from movement to the right viewing Fig. 12 under the influence of the spring 142, by a latch 145 fast upon a. short shaft or stud 146 and constituting a portion of a bell crank lever, the other arm 14T whereof extends upwardly and is connected to a long lilik 148 that extends past the cleaning and polishing brushes.

Also fast upon the shaft 146 is an arm or locking member 149 that is adapted to be pressed down into its full line position by a reed or a pile of reeds placed in the magazlne.. The pos1t1on1ng of such reed or reeds in the magazine thus positions the member 149 so as to lock the mechanism in running condition, it being then merely necessary to swing the belt shifter 141 manually to the left viewing Fig. '12 in any suitable manner, so as to permit the latch 145, which is depressed by the downward movement ofthe member 149, to take over and engage the arm 144. If desired, the belt shifter may be moved to running position before the reed or reeds are positioned in the magazine, so as to depress the member 149. The member 149 remains depressed so long as a. reed remains in the magazine, but said member 149 tends to rise when the last reed has passed from the magazine. rl`his tendency is, however, resisted and nulliied by the link 148, which at its forward or right hand end viewing Fig. 12 is pivotally connected to the arm 150 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 151, the other arm 152 thereof overlying the reed 4 at a point beyond the cleaning and polishing brushes.

When the last reed has -passed substantially beyond the cleaning and polishing brushes, the lever arm 152 drops into the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 12, thereby moving the link 148 to the left and permitting the member 149 to rise carrying with it the latch 145 and permitting the spring 142 to move the belt shifter so as to throw the belt 139 onto the idle pulley 140.

It is at times desirable tosupply to one or more of the brushes of either the cleaning means or the polishing means some suitable substance to assist in the operation of the brushes. Preferably I supply such a substance to the polishing brushes, the substance being some suitable cleaning material or even an abrasive material, such as emery. Preferably I employ such material in stick form, and in Figs. 2a and 4, have represented one form of means for supplying such material to the polishing brushes 54, 55. In said figures, I have represented the casing for theA polishing brushes as having openings therein recelvin holders 153, 154. In said holders are positioned sticks of cleaning or abrasive material 155. If said sticks '155 were permitted constantly to be in contact with the brushes, it is evident that said sticks would be wholly Worn away and consumed at an undue rate. Preferably therefore I provide means whereby at Stated periods only are said sticks of materialy 155 permitted to come in contact with the.

brushes. While for this purpose any suitable means may be provided, I have herein represented a star wheel 157 upon the shaft of the upper feed roll 83. Engaging theedge of the star Wheel is a lug upon a lever 158, said lever being pivoted at 159 and suitably connected to the pivot of lever arm 160 mounted at 161 and having' a bent outer end adapted to take under the inner end of the adjacent stick 155 and to lift the same periodically from the brush. A suitable coil or other spring is preferably provided tending normally to return the stick to contact with the polishing brush.

The lever 158 is connected to a link 162 which :It its other end is connected to a lever 163 pivoted at 164 and having a free end adapted to take under the inner end of the lower stick 155 and to force the same outwardly against the pressure 0f a suitable spring, not shown. Thus the turning of the star wheel 157 e'ects the periodic removal of the sticks 155 from the polishing brushes and permits their periodic return to contact therewith. Instead of the means shown, any other suitable means may be employed for the purpose. y

It is sometimes desirable after cleaning and polishing a reed or a series of reeds to storethe same instead of putting them immediately in use. In such circumstances, it is desirable to apply an oil or lubricant of some sort to prevent rusting. I have therefore provided means, one form of which I have illustrated in Fig. 17 for supplying oil or other lubricant to certain of the brushes. For this purpose I have represented a smail oil tank 165 suitably suported upon the framing of the machine asv y a bracket 166 and leading therefrom are two pipes 167, 168 for delivering oil directly to two brushes 169, 170, diagrammatically shown as mounted upon the same shaft as.

the polishing brushes 54, 55, also diagrammatically indicated. In this or in any other suitable manner, the oil may be delivered to the brushes and applied to the dents of the reed.

In the forms of the invention thus far described the cleaning and the polishing -brushes are rotated but have no bodily movement. If desired, I may impart a suitable bodily movement as well as a rotary movement to either the cleaning or the polishing brushes or to all of them. Preferably I impart not only a rotary movement but also a to and fro movement to the polishing brushes, and in Fig. 14 I have represented the preferred form of my invention, wherein the polishing brushes are given a movement of reciprocation in a path transverse to the path of movement of the reeds through the cleaning machine.

In said figure, the upper polishing brush 54 is mounted upon a pulley 171 pivoted at 172 upon a link 173 which at its opposite or right hand end viewing Fig. 14 is pivotally nected toa link 178 upon whose opposite end y is pivotally mounted a pulley 179 carrying the lower polishing brush 55. In order to insure a parallelism of movement of the links 173-, 178, I have connected thereto about midlength. thereof a lever 180 pivotally mounted at 181 upon the framing of the machine.

In order to impart reciprocating movement to the links 173, 178, I provide any suitable means. Preferably I mount upon the shaft 21 a crank arm 182 which is lpref-v erably slotted as indicated at 183 to o tain an adjustment of the length of throw of said crank arm. Pivotally connected to said crank arm at 184 is a link 185, the outer end of which is pivoted at 186 to a lever 187, the upper end of which is loosely mounted upon the stud 176. y At a suitable point and herein about midlength of the lever 187 I provide laterally extending lugs 188, 189, wherein are tapped adjusting screws 190, 191 receiving the ends of short coil springs 192, 193, the inner ends of which yieldingly engage a lever arm 194 fast upon the said stud 176. In this manner, the movement of the lever 187 is yieldingly conveyed to the lever 194 and thus I may provide for an overthrow of the lever 187 inasmuch as I provide adjustable stops, hereinafter described, to limit the movement of the lever 194. Inasmuch as the lever 194 is fast upon the stud 176 the yielding rocking movement imparted to said lever 194 effects the rocking of the lever 175 and the consequent reciprocation of the polishing brushes 54 and 55.

The said polishing brushes 54 and 5.5 are rotated upon their axes through the action of their pulleys 171, 179, about which passes a belt 195,. passing also about an adjustable idler pulley 196 and a suitable pulley 197 upon the shaft-13.

If desired and preferably I provide means whereby the polishing brushes 54, 55 may be pressed yieldingly .and adjustably toward the opposite faces of the reed 4.

While for this purpose any suitable means may be provided I have herein represented the left hand end of the links 173,l 178 as lever arms pivoted at 198, 199 upon the respective links 173, 17 8. Extending from said pivots 198, 199 are lever arms 200 which are pivotally connected at 201 to collars 202 upon rods 203 tapped at their lower ends 204 into suitable sockets 205 on the links 173, 178. The collars 202 are outwardly pressed by coil springs 206 and the compression of said springs may be varied by rotating the rods 204 by means of the thumb. nuts 207, which are notched to receive locking pawls 208. In this manner or in any other suitable way the polishing brushes 54, 55 may be pressed with desired pressure toward the reeds 4.

have heretofore stated that the side members 2-2 of the magazine and the side members 66, 67 which carry the shields for Jghe edges of the reeds are adapted to be adjusted toward and from each other to suit different widths of reed by means of the threaded rods 70, 71, 72, 73 The construction herein disclosed is such that the said adjustment of the side members 2 2 and 66, 67 automatically 4effects Aa corresponding change in the length of the reciprocating movement of the polishing brushes 54, 55, although if desired and as herein shown I provide other or adjunctive means to effect a local adjustment at or near the path of the said reciprocating brushes. Such adjunctive adjusting means', however, need not be employed.

I have herein represented the side mem- -means I may vary bers 66, 67 as formed with downward extensions 209, 210 receiving short sleeves 211, 212, wherein are positioned nuts 213, 214 mounted upon the oppositelythreaded ends 215, 216 of a rod 217, the inner end of which is pivotally connected at 218 with the lever arm 180, a -coupling 219 being provided to permit the necessary freedom of movement of the rod 217 relative to the lever 218. The nuts 213, 214 are held from turning by strips 220, 221 extending from the sleeves 211, 212, and the outer end of the rod 217 is squared at 222 for the reception of a removable crank 223 whereby the rod 217 may be readily rotated in either direction.

Obviously the adjustment of the side members 2, 2 and 66, 67 toward or from each other changes the position of the sleeves 211, 212, thus changing the length of stroke of the polishing brushes 54, 55. In certain cases, however, it may be necessary for fine adjustment to employ the local adjusting means provided by the rod 217 and coperating parts.

It will be obvious that by reason of the slotted crank arm 182 or by other suitable the extent of travel of the lever 187 and also that the travel of said lever may be an intermittent one instead of a constant one, as by employing ratchet mechanism upon the shaft 2l.

It is obvious that in the rocking movement of the lever 180, the nuts 213, 214 take against the edges of the sleeves 211, 212, thus limiting the stroke of the lever 180 in each direction.

Owing to the inter-position of the springs 192, 193, between the lever 187 and the lever arm 194, the stroke of the lever 180 may be terminated atv any suitable point through the adjustable positioning of the nuts 213, 214.

In that form of my invention shown in Y Fig. 14, I provide holders 224 wherein are positioned the sticks 225 of cleaning or abrasive material, coil springs 226 being provided to force said sticks yieldingly toward the brushes 54, 55. Inasmuch as said brushes are reciprocated as described. they are in contact only intermittently with said sticks, hence it is unnecessary in this form of my invention to provide means to withdraw periodically the sticks, as in that form of my invention shown in Fig. 4. Preferably, however, I provide for rotating the sticks 225 upon their longitudinal axes through the agency of the brushes them.- selves, and in Fig. 15, I have represented one of the holders 224 and the stick 225 therein. The exposed end of the stick 225 is engaged by the brush only at one side of a diametrical line and such contact rotates the stick slowly about its longitudinal axis, so that the stick wears away evenly, and is constantly pressed inward by the spring 226'. ln order to retain the stick in position, I preferably provide a finger 227, the inner end of which is bent and engages the inner end of the sti-ck 225. Said finger is adjustable and I have herein shown it as carried by a nut 228 mounted upon a screw 229 tapped into the holder 224C.

It will be evident that by my invention, a certain embodiment of which is herein represented, the reeds are subjected to a cleaning and also to a polishing action, and that preferably the reeds are fed one after another automatically from a magazine past the cleaning andipolishing means and are automatically delivered onto a suitable'recelvei, the mechanism being locked in driving position either with the mechanical form of stop motion shown in Figs. 11 and 12, or with the electrical form of stop motionshown 1n Fig. 10, the entire mechanism ybeing stopped when the reed or the series of reeds have been fed past the cleaning and polishing means.

It will also be evident that while my invention is adapted for cleaning and polishing silk, cotton or woolen reeds, it is peculiarly adapted for the cleaning and polishmg of cotton and woolen reeds, since it is of great importance that the edges of the cotton and woolen reeds'be protected during the cleaning and polishing thereof. Itis possible in the practice of myv invention thoroughly to clean and to polish a reed in a very short time and far more eectively and quickly than has heretofore been done. The peculiar formation of a reed with its slightly spaced dents requires the application of special mechanism for which machines intended for cleaning and polishing various articles are not adapted.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specic terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

1. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds having spaced dents, comprising a support for a plurality of assembled loom reeds, cleaning means for the dents of the reeds and for removing foreign matter from between said dents, and means for effecting the movement of said loom reeds from said p support to said cleaning means.

2. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds or'like elongated, `relatively narrow, platelike pieces of a grid-like structure com.-

prising cleaning means forl the grid-like structure of said reeds, a support for a series of loom reeds, means to feed the reeds one after another from the support to and past the cleaning means, and means automatically ieeaeee to stop the action of the feeding means when the last of said reeds has been subjected to the action of the cleaning means.

3. Mechanism for cleaningl loom reeds having spaced dents comprising a support for a loom reed while being cleaned, brushv cleaning means for the dents of the reed and for removing foreign matter from between said dents, means to feed said reed and to subject it to the action of said brush cleaning means, and means to drive said brush cleaning means in the direction of movement of the reed.

4. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structure comprising a support for a loom reed While being cleaned, one or more rotary brushes for cleaning the grid-like structure of the reed, and means to impart relative traveling movement to said reed and cleaning means in the direction of said relative travelingmovement.

5. Mechanism for cleaning reedsor like elongated, relatively narrow, platelike pieces of a grid-like structure comprising a support for a loom reed while being cleaned, brushes located yabove and below the reed to clean thespaces between the dents thereof, and means to impart movement to said reed at said brushes.

6. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds having spaced dents comprising a support for af loom reed, cleaning means for the dents of the reed and for removing foreign matter from between said dents, and succeeding means to subject said cleaned loom reed to a polishing action.

7 Mechanism for cleaning loom. reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces ofA a grid-like structure comprising cleaning means, means to feed a reed to the i action of said cleaning means, and means for automatically stopping said feeding means. 8. Mechanism for cleaning Yloom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like the loom reed 'effects the stopping of the* feeding mechanism.

9. Mechanism for cleaning and polishingI loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning means therefor, and means to protect from the action of said cleaning` means the edges of said reed, which edges are the top and bottom of the reed when in the loom.

10. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning brushes therefor,

- ture comprising a support for means to feed the reed past said brushes, and means to protect the edges of the reed from the action of said brushes.

11. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a reed support, cleaning means for the reed and means yieldingly to feed the reed to and subject it to the action of said cleaning means.

12. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, platelike pieces of a grid-like structure comprising a support for the reed while being cleaned, and cleaning means for the reed acting transverselyv to the length of the reed dents serving to remove foreign matter from and between the reed dents.

13, Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds and like articles comprising cleaning means acting transverselyv to the length of the reed dents serving to remove foreign matter from and between the reed dents and polishing means acting in the direction of the length of the reed dents.

14:. Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for the reed while being cleaned, cleaning means acting transversely of the reed and subsequently acting reed polishing means acting in the direction of the length of the reed dents, and means to protect both faces of the reed at the edges thereof during the cleaning and polishing action.

15. Means for cleaning and polishing loom reeds having' spaced dents comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning means for the dents of said reed and for removing foreign matter from between said dents, polishing means for said reed dents, and means to impart to and fro movement to said polishing means.

16. Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structhe loom reed, cleaning brushes therefor, subsequently acting polishing brushes, and means to impart rotary and also to and fro movement to said polishing brushes.

17 Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structure comprising a setof rotary cleaning brushes, a set of rotary polishing brushes, means to traverse the reed past said sets of brushes, and means to impart reciprocating movement to said polishing. brushes.

18. Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structure comprising a loom reed support, cleaning brushes arranged one in advance of another serving to remove foreign matter from and between the reed dents and subsequently acting polishing brushes arranged one in advance of another.

vthe movement of the reed or 19. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising cleaning means, means to feed the reed past said cleaning 111eans. and electrical means for stopping the action of the mechanism when the reed has been moved past said cleaning means.

20. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds having spaced dents comprising a support for a plurality of such assembled loom reeds,

" and cleaning means for the dents of the said reeds and for removing the foreign matter from between the said dents.

21. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning means for the reed, means to feed said reed to and to subject it to the action of said cleaning means, and locking means for the feeding means rendered effective by placing the reed or a plurality of reeds in position to be fed.

Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a plurality of assembled loom reeds, cleaning means for said reed, means to feed said reed and to subject it to the action of said cleaning means, locking means for the feeding means rendered effective by placing the reed or a plurality of reeds in position, and automatic stopping means rendered operative by the last of the series of reeds past the cleaning means.

23. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning means therefor, means to feed the reed to and past said cleaning means, and yielding means to shield the edges of the reed during said feeding movement.

24. Means for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising feeding means, a magazine for supporting a reed or a plurality of reeds in a pile, and means to adjust said magazine to adapt it to different size reeds.

25. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning means for the loom reed,v polishing means for said reed, means to impart to and fro movement to said polishing means, and means to vary the length of to and fro movement of said polishing means.

26. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structure comprising a loom reed support, means to act upon the loom reed to clean the same, means to reciprocate said acting means in a direction crosswise of said reed, and means to varyv the length of stroke of said reciprocating means.4

27. Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning brushes and polishing brushes therefor, means to rotate said brushes, means to reciprocate the polishing brushes, and means to supply a polishing or abrasive material to said polishing brushes.

28. Mechanismfor cleaning and polishing loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structure comprisin a loom reed support, cleaning brushes, po ishing brushes, means to rotate said brushes, means to reciprocate the polishing brushes, means to support a stick of polishing or abrasive material in operative relation to said polishing brushes, and means whereby said material is periodically removed from operative relation to said brushes.

29. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a magazine for a plurality of loom reeds, cleaning brushes for said reeds, polishing brushes therefor, means to rotate said brushes, means to reciprocate the polishing brushes, means to adjust the width of said magazine, and means whereby the length of reci rocating movement of said polishing brus es is varied in accordance with the said adjustment of the magazine.

30. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a loom reed, rotary cleaning brushes therefor, means to feed the reed to and to subject it to the action of said cleaning brushes, a housing for said brushes, and means for admitting air to said housing and for discharging it therefrom and for driving said brushes at such a speed that such brushes act as fans to suck in air and to convey the foreign matter from the reed to a place of deposit.

31. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a reed support, cleaning means, means to feed the loom reed to and past the cleanin means, means positioned anterior to the c eaning means effectively to lock the mechanism in running condition, and means posterior to said cleaning means to stop the action of the mechanism after the reed has passed said cleaning means. 4

32. Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a plurality of loom reeds, ro-

I tary cleaning brushes, rotary polishing l brushes, means successively to feed the bottom loom reed to and past said cleaning and polishing brushes, means anterior to said brushes effectively to lock the mechanism in running relation, and means posterior to said brushes to stop the mechanism when the last loom reed has been fed through the mechanism.

33. Mechanism` for cleaning loom reeds comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning means therefor, means to feed the loom reed to and subject it to the action of said cleaning means, and a yielding support onto brushes,

which the reed is discharged by the feeding means after it has been cleaned.

34:. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds having spaced dents comprising in combination, a magazine for a plurallty of assembled loom reeds, cleaning means for the dents of said reeds and for removing foreign matter from between said dents, a support for the cleaned reeds, and means to feed said reeds one by one from said magazine past said cleaning means onto said support.

35. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds having spaced dents comprising a magazine for a plurality of assembled loom reeds, rotary cleaning brushes for the dents of the reeds and for removing foreign matter from between said dents, rotary polishing brushes for the dents of said reeds, a support for the cleaned and polished reeds, and means to feed said reeds from the magazine to and past said cleaning and polishing brushes and onto said support.

36.' Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structure comprising a magazine, rotary cleaning brushes, rotary polishing brushes, a downwardly yielding support for the cleaned and polishing reeds, and means to feed the reeds from said magazine past said cleaning and polishing brushes onto said support.

37. Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds having spaced dents comprlsing a support for a loom reed, rotary cleaning brushes for the dents of said reed and for removing foreign matter from between said dents, rotary polishing brushes for the dents of said reed, and means yieldingly to impart reciprocating movement to said polishing brushes.

38. Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds and like articles comprising a loom reed support, rotary rotary polishing brushes, adjustable stops to limit the length of stroke of the reciprocation of said brushes in each direction' and yielding Imeans for reciprocating said brushes.

39. A loom reed cleaning mechanism having means to receive a reed provided with edges requiring protection from the cleaning mechanism, and means adapted to eX- tend len hwise of the reed at the edges thereof during the cleaning operation and to protect said `edges from the action of the cleaning mechanism.

40. A loom reed cleaning mechanism comprising a magazine to su port one or more reeds, polishing devices a apted to be moved to and fro across the path of movement of the reeds, means to feed the reed or reeds from the magazine past the polishing means, means for varying the width of the magacleaning .l

zine to accommodate different sized reeds, and means whereby such variation in width of the magazine automatically changes the length of to and fro movement of the polishing means .in conformity with the change in width of said magazine.

lll. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds having spaced dents comprising a support for a plurality of assembled loom reeds, cleaning means for the dents of the reeds and for removing foreign matter from be tween said dents, and means for bodily relatively moving the reeds with respect to the cleaning means.

42. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds or like elongated, relatively narrow, plate-like pieces of a grid-like structure comprising a support for such grid-like structures, and coperating means to clean said structures and to remove foreign mattei' from the interstices thereof.

43. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising cleaning means, a support for a series of loom reeds, means to feed the reeds one after another from the support to and past the cleaning means, and means automatically t-o stop the action of the feeding means when the last of said reeds has been subjected to the action of the cleaning means.

i4. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising cleaning means, means to feed a reed to the action of said cleaning means, and means for automatically stopping said feeding means.

45. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds and like articles comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning means therefor, means to feed the reed to and subject the same to the action of said cleaning means, means whereby the positioning of a loom reed may be removed from the locks the mechanism in driving relation, and means whereby the discharge of 'the loom reed effects the stopping of the feeding mechanism.

46. Mechanism for cleaning loom reeds comprising in combination, means to support a loom reed, means to remove foreign matter from the reeds and from the interstices between the same, and means to protect the edges of the reed from the action of the cleaning means.

47. Mechanism for cleaning ing loom reeds comprisin in combination, a. support for a loom reet, and means acting while the red is so supported to restore the rounded edges of the dents which have become sharpenedA by the Wear of the shuttle in the picking action.

48. Mechanism for cleaning and polishing loom reeds comprising a support for a loom reed, cleaning brushes constructed and arranged to remove foreign matter from the reed dents, and from the interstices therebetween, and co-acting polishing means to remove rust and temple marks from the surface of the dents.

49. Mechanisniy for cleaning loom reeds comprising an elongated, relatively narrow magazine wherein said reeds may be piled, means for withdrawing said reeds singly from the pile, co-acting cleaning brushes and polishing brushes positioned in the path of movement of the reeds, and means to present the reeds from the magazine to said brushes, and whereby foreign matter dents and from the interstices between the dents and the surface of the reed may be polished.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY.

and polish- 

